New Boat Ramp to Oostanaula River Creates Better Access for Boaters, Canoeists and Anglers

CALHOUN, Ga. (11/18/2010)

Thanks to a cooperative agreement between Gordon County and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, boaters and anglers have a new facility to launch motor boats and canoes on the Oostanaula River. A new ramp was required after a previous ramp, which served the area for four decades, closed in 2007 due to issues of inaccessibility.

“Although the loss of the original ramp was disappointing for area anglers, this new ramp offers an improved design providing a wider ramp, a canoe launch, more parking spaces and easier highway access,” says Division Fisheries Management Region Supervisor Wayne Probst.

Gordon County obtained the new property for the area and DNR was able to construct the ramp using a federal sportfish restoration grant.

The new ramp entrance is on the south side of GA Highway 156 approximately five miles west of Calhoun and approximately 1.5 ‘road miles’ west of the old ramp. However, the new ramp is four ‘river miles’ downstream from the old location due to a large “loop” in the river. This location change better distributes the float distance between the three Oostanaula River ramps. Those wishing to float from the GA Hwy 136 Connector ramp in Calhoun to the new ramp can plan on a 10-mile trip and those wishing to float from the new ramp to the GA Hwy 140 ramp will travel about 14 miles.